Conveyer mechanism



Sept. 30, 1952 s. TL cARvwrl-:R 2,612,254

coNvEYER MECHANISM Filed sept. 14, 1945 `4 Sheen-sheet 1 S. T. CARTER CONVEYER MECHANISM sgpt. 3o, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1945 s. T. CARTER v CONVEYER MECHANISM l Sept. 30, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet-Z:

Filed sept. 14, .1945

Sept. 30, 1952 s. T.` CARTER 2,625254 CONV'EYER MECHANISM 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed sept. 14, 1945 v Mami Patented i Sept. 30, 1952 mesneessienmcnts.. v

facturing. G0... Cudahy, Wis

Wis-P91151 Geo.-

Meyer Manu-V a cjorporatlionof Applicatilnn vSeptember'14, 1 945, Serial No.. 616,319

1 This invention pertains Joo-comeyor mechav nism and relates more especially to- 'improved means for delivering moving articles; from one conveyor element to anothenfin particularv for delivering articles, which Aare being moved by a conveyor at a path, to a second conveyor which .moves them along a different path at a substantiallyfdiirerent speed. For specific. examplecf; one. utility of the invention it may bevemployedinalahelng machine wherein an articleis suppurted.wh1le receiving the labelr-by airotary' turntablezand must then be transferred to. a .conveyor belt. or chain which definesA a path tangent" (or, parallel to a tangent) tothe rotary tnrnt'able, andwhih may, for example, cont/:ey thefarticlesz tdainakaging machine.

In certain types of bottle: ,labeling machine,4 for example a machine of: thergeneral-lkinddisg. closed in patents to WoodlandgNop1,2D3.,676;NQ vember 7, 1916, No. 1,138,855., OctQhei'-,13 191,4, and No. 1,133,602, March 3Q, .1915.. thebQti'fIn iS supported upon aI table which, .turns abqlltn Yertical axis, the bottle fbeinggrippedphetween.movable jaws which hold the: bottleirmly'in-nnrght position while the labelisbeing; applied." These Jaws are automatically separated` telelens@ .the bottle at the point. where itzis tcrlriedelim redto the conveyor. At. this; point. the.- ,bottl moved off lof the rapidly turni-ng .table Y terrupting the.. rotation `of. the. latten and w danger of tipping the in upright position upon .them conveyor chain or belt. During this transfer them ofthebottle must be changed fromva rap'dmovement of revolution to a much slowenlinear .I'IIOLQnna substantially rectilinear path. They 'palzobject of the present inventionis to provi e; Aanto-- matic kmeans `operative, to. seilzetjthe; i is released by the gripping jaws'T oft e table'and to deliver it safely to the'conveyor belt orcnain wherein it willstand upright withontctheassistance of any positive holding means..

One object of the present invention. iste pro.- vide novel and effective meansoperatiraauto.- matcally, to vtransfer veyor to the other. and whichlafi'crdsf omplete control of the article .beforeand during ,theljtransfer. A further object isI to '.pr( n'zicl'e'transier. l yans so devised as, during ,the transfenpostively110 vary the linear velocity.ofithefarticl'e' fror'n'that i which it had while `traveling onA thenlrseconveyor to one at whichit .may safely jrbedelivered to the second conveyor. `A further; object is' to provide automatic transfer means. 'operativef to transfer an article from azrotaryfcqnveg te@ 1v dans. CL www.

given linear speed "and alqnggone bottle. anddenesitedsately 2. rectilinear conveyor path while reducing.; its, linear speed from that. of the` rotary conveyorft? tlfiat.y atv which it lmay safely initiate its "friction alongl the rectilinear path. A further. obiect i`s` toprovideyautomatic means operative tol'grasp thearticle,y preparatory toits transfer. from one. conveyory element to the. other, ani'to, releas. vit after l it has been safely delivered onto. theother conveyor element, A further object' t'o provide'. automaticl means operative toy seize'an article jas it isv released by the lclamping. means', offa-rotary labeling machine: table and/to'. deliver 'it safely to a conveyor belt lory chain. i'nsnch` away ftv at it willl remain. upright whenso delivered without theA assistance ofV any associated holdingfmeans'. Other and. further. objects and` advantages" vofthe invention will be pointed outi'n the following In re detailed descrptionandby reference. to thefacl companyingdrawings wherein Fig.. 1 is afragmentaryjplan View partly inherizontaly section andl'm'ore orl'ess 'diagrammatic in character,` showing the n. impro-vedi 'transfer means of the present invention arranjgef'if"tol transfer articles', for instance lfi'ofttlfes,"` from 'the jrotary'table `of"a`/ labelingY machine t'ov a1 libri: Fig.' 2Ji-s a] fragmentary' vertical' section" ,subL stantially Online line Z-ZOE'gf. 1"':1: y' Fig. f3. isa fragmentary vertical. seetionto larger. scale, showing portionsof"thejdriven'shafts of thetransfer Irie'cl-i'ani.'sn` 1,` together 'with the'sta'- 'tionary' cam which' controlsv thiner, niofthe article-grippingjaws;

Fig; fifis a 'fragmentary plan view of ai jaw-ac'- Fig'. 5'is a plan View of' one of' the article-yen'- easing', arrnsofthe, train"sfier mecianisrn i Fig; 6 i'sa'plan view of the' corresponding artric-1e grj'pl-Qng,v jaw; L .L .l 1J: 'Fig'. '1 is' a sideI elevation, `partlybroken away, .of lone o f the; driven shafts ofwthejtransfrmeeha'- Fig. `8 is aplan View of the shaft of- Fig. 72 Fig. 9I isfaI fragmentary elevation of thefother driven shaft 'of' the transfer mechanism;

`Ii'g.' 10 isI a; planl view2 off tlesh'aft of Fig. 9; an Y Figs. 1l to 16 inclusivel are diagrammaticfplan views iiigustrating A the action' of trier "transf-'5er mechanism.

Referringto the drawingsthe numeral I` designates a horizontal frame member formingla-portion of amachine', here indicatedVf as 'aflal'eling machine, with which thefimproveditransfer'ineenansm. is associated. *filename-also 'compri-sera 1; horizontal raiijcr rails- 2;' spaccal belowft frame 3 member l and which support a lower bearing 3 for the shaft 4 on which the rotary conveyor element, for instance the rotary table 1, of a labeling machine, is mounted. A second bearing 5 for this shaft II is carried by the frame member I. Drive connections (not shown) deliver power for turning the shaft 4 from some convenient rotating element of the labeling machine, for instance as illustrated in the Woodland patent referred to.

The table 1 is a horizontal disk having a substantially plane upper surface upon which the articles (here illustrated, Fig. 1, as bottles B) rest, as they are moved past the label-applying mechanism, not here shown. This table is Vprovided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced rear rests or pusher devices 8 (Fig. l) which are of such horizontal width as to contact a substantial area of the bottle, and with corresponding arcuate slots 9 for guiding article-clamping elements or gripiingers Ill' (disposed forwardly or in advance of the rest 8 in the direction of rotation) which cooperate with the rests 8 in holding the articles firmly in upright position as they are moved along by the rotary conveyor table. This table, with its rear or following rests 3 and its forward clamping members I 0, and the means for relatively moving the rests and clamping members is of the general type disclosed in the patent to Woodland above referred to, and need not be further described herein, since these details form no essential part of the present invention. The articles to be labeled are delivered in any desired manner, either manually or by automatic means not here'- in shown, butV common in the art, to the rotary conveyor element 1, and after receiving the labels, they are to be transferred to another conveyor element, here shown as an endless conveyor belt or chain I I, which, as illustrated in Fig. l, is substantially parallel to a tangent to the periphery of the table 1, and with its upper run (Fig. 2) 'substantially in the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of the table 1. The upper run cf this conveyorbelt is supported by suitable guide means I2 carried by a portion I3 of the-machine frame as illustrated in Fig, 2, the conveyorbeing driven in timed relation to the table 1 by appropriate drive connections familiar to those skilled in the art, but not shown. Preferably, there is associated with the conveyor II, sui-table guide means, here shown (Fig. 1) as comprising stationary spaced rails I4 and I5 for positioning the articles, after being deposited upon the belt or lchain at a desired point widthwise of the chain, for example so as to facilitate the delivery of a second set of articles onto the same belt or chain by transfer mechanism vcorresponding to another labeling machine.

Referring to Fig. 2, the table-supporting shaft l is shown as provided-with a hub member I6 keyed to the shaft and having a radial flange I1 Which receives bolts which enter threaded openings in a radial flange I8 forming part of a pinion I9 loose on the shaft 4. The openings in the Vflange I1, which receive the attaching bolts, may

be circumferentially elongate so as to permit accurate adjustment of the pinion I9 relatively to the shaft 4, if desired. The pinion I9 meshes with a gear which turns on a stub shaft 2l fixed at its upper end in a hollow boss 22 carried by they frame member I. This gear 20 meshes with teeth 23 on the rim-24 of a cupped gear 26 having a depressed central portion integral with a hollow drive shaft 21 which turns on the upper part `of a stud 28 `fixed at its lower end ina boss 25 supported by a portion 30 of the machine frame. To

4 the upper end of the stud 28 there is secured a horizontal disk 3| having a plain smooth upper surface.

The frame member I is provided with an elongate tubular boss 32 whose axis is located between the periphery of the table -1 and the adjacent edge of the Aconveyor belt II and which is eccentric with respect to the axis of the hollow drive shaft 21. Within this sleeve 32 and coaxial therewith is the inner driven shaft 33 of the transfer device, said shaft having a reduced lower end 3d (Figs. 2 and 9) which turns in an anti-friction bearing device 35 restingy on Ithe smooth upper surface of the disk 3I. Immediately above its reduced lower end 34, the shaft 33 has a portion 35 of somewhat larger diameter to which is clamped the hub portion of a rigid actuating arm 31 (Figs. 2 and 1l) having a radially elongate guide slot 35 which receives a roll 39 turning on the upper end of a crank pin A!) secured to the horizontal rim portion 24 of the gear 2B.

A second driven shaft di (Figs. 2, 1 and 8), Whose lower portion is tubular and in which the shaft 33 turns, is disposed to turn within-the tubular boss' 32 and has a portion 42 at its lower end, of lreduced diameter, which rests upon an antifriction-bearing device 43 which in turn rests upon the Vhub portion of the arm 31. The hub portion of a second rigid actuating armA :lli is clamped to the part 42 of the shaft lli and is provided with an elongate radial guide slot 45 (Figli) which receives a roll 46 turning on the `upper end of a crank pin d1 xed in the riml 25 of the gear 25. The pins l5 and 41 are 180 apart so that rolls S9 and 12S are diametrically opposed. l

That portion of the inner shaft 33-which is exposed above the upper part of the bearing 32, is .provided with a segmental projection 48 (Fig. 10) which, as here illustrated, is of substantially 45 circumferential extent. To the outer arcuate peripheral surface of this projection 53 there is attached, by means of bolts M or the like (Fig. 3) the hub portion 49 (Fig. 5) of an article-engaging arm 55 here shown (Fig. 2) as comprising vertically spaced upper and lower article-engaging arms or members 5I andv 52, the parts being Aso arranged that, as the shaft 53 rotates, these article-engaging members 5l and 52 sweep over the marginal portion of the ltable 'l so as to inl tersect the normal circumferential path of the articles B traveling with the table 1. Preferably the article-engaging arms ormembers 5I and52 are curved, as illustrated in Fig. 1,' so as partially to embrace a bottle B as they come into contact with the upper and lower portions respectively of the latter.

Theinner portions of the members 5I and 52 are provided with aligned openings S (Fig. 5) for a vertical shaft 53 (Fig. l) which-forms a pivotal support for the hub portion 513 of an articlegripping or clamping jaw 55 (Fig. 6)'. This jaw, as here illustrated, is located substantially midway, vertically, between the parts 5I and 52. The jaw 55 is provided with an upwardly extending bracket portion 56A (Figs. 2 and 6) having a projection 51'whlch receives theconical end 53 of a jaw-actuating pin (Figs. l, 2 and 4) having a vstern portion 59 sliding in an opening in a boss to projecting from the upper article-engaging member 5l. A spring P, coiledabout the stem 59, urges the conical head 58 of the pin into contact with the-member 51, thus tending to swing the free end of the jaw 55 in a clockwise direction, as viewed invFig..1, so as to grip an articleB between the gripper jaw'55 and the" members 5I and 52.

The bracket56 .also carriesanupstanding pinon which turns.V a cam `follower ro1l6| (Fig.` 1)' defl slgnedfto engageV a stationary. cam. 62f Vfast Ato a shaft 63 whose lower end is received in a socket bearing in the -upper end of the inner driven shaft .33,- and -whoseupperendis xed in a bearing, not shown, carried by the machine frame.

l AThat portion of the tubular driven shaft 4| which -is exposed above the..upper end Iof the sleeve bearing 32, is cut awayso as toprovide a segmental tubular portion 64 (Figs. 'land 8') here shown as of a circumferential extent. of` approximately 140, thisportion 64 being at the opposite side ofthe axis of the. shaft 4| from the projection 4,8 on the shaft onthe shaft 3.3. Since thel combined circumferential v extent -of the .projection 48 on-the shaft 3 3. -v Since thewcombined circumferential extent 4of the projection 48 and the segmental portion 64 is vsubstantially less than 360, it is thus' possible for'theA inner and outer shafts to lturnirelatively to eachother through a substantial'arc. i

VThe drivingv and 'controlling elements are so designed that the `law 55 contacts the bottle before the latter yis engaged bythe armA 5|; Y The bottle is held iirmlyaagainst--the rest '3f by the jaw 55'alone while the bottleis moving approximately 1A rinch along its arcuate path with the turntable,

thus affording time for thexgripping-member Itv to movel away from 4the bottle beforethe latter starts to swing fromnoff the turntable. As the rest -8 is of substantialtwidth peripherally of .the bottle, its outer-corner (that is the corner nearest to the conveyor 1|) travels faster ,than` the. axis of the bottle.` To prevent. thisv outericorner of the rest .from catching up .withlthe bottle as the latter is swung bodily about the center of shaft 53 'during transfer; :the arm '5 l` must :move lat a much greater velocity V(when it ,first contactsv thebottle) than,v that of `the 'table..

Since motion of the bottle, `in swinging away from the tableand overzonto theiconveyor, is no longer about the axis'oflthe`.table,.thercomponent of l.the bottles velocity about i the Yaxis of the table (as.Y soon Las transferfactually begins) is much .lessi than its :original rvelocity about the center ofthe table; andthusy: forztlnsa reason also, a high speed of the arm 51| is required toprevent the rest 8 from striking thebottle during this transfer. i

However, to prevent the `arm'il '.-from' pushing the bottle aheadafter.the-flatter,has-@been placed on thec'onveyor l I and'sthe Varml againrpicksup' speed` preparatory to :engagementxwithi-the. next bottle' onthe. turntable, the chain il musttravel at a rate substantially greaterY tl'ianv the. Ydelivery speedof'thearm 5|'.

The .pin 53 f aboutl which:y jawl 'J5 5: swings is :so located'that immediately the'arm255 contacts the bottle and during the aforesaid quarter-.inch l travel of the' bottlewhile fclamped'i by.. 'jaw 55 against rest'8,:there'is1no relative.- movement of the tip'of theijaw 55 andfthe' bottle, thus avoiding any possible injury 'to the.l'abel...x

By way of example, kbuti-withoutlimitation, ratios of. speeds'whereby theatransfer mechanism is enabled to operate v`properly with'bottles of ditl ferent sizes, are as followsz' If thearticle travelsin'; its arcuate path about the axis'of` the turntable at-alinear `velocity of 16 inches per second, the arm 5| should move at a rate of 29 inches per second when -it first contacts the bottler When the `bottle is released by the arm 55 pto travel-with the Vconveyor'.- f I the arm 5| `should then be,.movng ,at approximately ,-9 inches'.,per .secondi while" the chain should. be movingI at approximately ,ABl/inches per second. vTothe outerperipheral surfaceof the segmen.- tal portion ,54 of shaftflllthe're4 is secured .by bolts EN' (FgfBl the .hublportion of a second articlefengaging arm4 |150; which .may be ,identically similar to the arm ',`and'.comprisi`ng.upper and lower article-engagingmembers |5`|...and.|52 (Fig. 2) Vcorresponding vto themembersm Vand. 52 of the. armv 5U above described; Withthis second article-engaging arm there. also: associated' an articleclamping jaw |(Fig. .1)- similar nto .the jawV 55above described, and actuatedibya spring P and a cam follower rollil.a which also .engages the fixed cam 62. y

inthe operation of the machineand assuming that. the table-supporting l shaft .4 is being constantly driven at' uniform angular velocity, `and that thek conveyor belt .|`|.is moving at a uniform linear velocity substantiallylless .than the linear velocity yof bottles moving alongv .on the table l, the engagement of pinion .I'Sjwith gear 20`will I turn the gear T26 ata uniform velocity, dependent upon the gear ratio. Asv.,.th-is latter vgear 2'6 rotates, the-rolls 59 and lle-(which constitute anti-friction crank pins) cause the `actuating arms 31 and 44 to swing aboutfthe axis. of shaft 33, but since the axis of the shaft 'l'is eccentric to the axes of the shafts33`l and. I, the crank pins 39 and 46 travel .in androut radially along the guide slots ill and-45-whichresults in a variable speed of rotation-.of theshats 337 and 4|. The varying positions kof therolls 35-v and 46 relative to the arms 3lV and are illustrated in Fig. 11. 'qIhe resultant relativermovementsrof the two article-engagingv arms 5| and i|5| are indicated in Figs.`12,l 13, 14, .l5-.and 16, respectively.y As one ofthe arms,.for example the arm 5I, approachesv the pathof the articlesr on the rotating table 1, the angular velocity of the arm 5| is increased untily it somewhat exceeds the linear velocity of the article on. the, table 1. As the arm 5| approaches Ythe' article on the table the corresponding clamping arm or jaw 55is retracted from the arm5| by camGZ so as to permit the article to be received between the arm 5| and the gripping jaw. However,y as soon as the articleL is disposed between thejaw 55 and the arm 5 the'jaw 551 is permitted by the cam toA be closed by springl P, thus firmlyclamping Vthe article against rest 8, l(Figs 14K) ;v Immediately kthereafter the. gripping member l0 retracts-from the article `to give clearance for the article to swing off of thetable Thearm `5| now'engages the article, which-` is thus' seized between arms 55 and 5| which now act asa unit to `sweep the article from'offthe table, with the article gripped between them.y When the arm 5| has traveled substantially 180 thev article is disposed directly above the uppervfrun. of the conveyor belt During thisfarc of travel,

the speed of the arm 5| (andthe cooperating arm 55) is gradually decreased until, when the article is abovev the conveyorbelt-I l, the linear velocity of the article is substantially less than its initial velocity of travel-with the table. At this time thek cam 62 causesthe -armor. jaw 55 to be retracted from the `arm-5f|-, thus lreleasing vthe article and permitting it Yto bef'moved freely along on ther conveyor belt.4 At the instant of release, the speed of the armk 5|.u is substantially less than that of the conveyor beltr so thatthe article will tendto move away from. the arm.5'| as the latter continues to advance.'y Soon after 7 the article has been freed from the arm'5l. the angular velocity ofthe arm 5| begins to increase but before it can catch up with the article on the belt, the article has passed beyond its orbit. While the first arm 5| has thus been completing its cycle, the opposite arm |5| has begun its similar cycle of motion, has picked up the succeeding article from the table, and is moving it toward the conveyor belt. Thus the articles are swept rapidly from the table 1, reduced in velocity, and deposited one after another upon the conveyor belt, the arms 5| and |5| following eachother in their circular path of travel, first receding from each other and then catching up with each other as they continue to rotate.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been disclosed by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of all equivalent constructions. and further, that while the transfer mechanism is here illustrated as designed for reducingthe speedof an article when transferring it from one conveyor element toanother, it may be arranged, if desired, to pick up an article from a slow moving conveyor and Vto increase lits speed in readiness for delivery to a fast moving conveyor.

I claim:

l. Conveyor apparatus of the kind whichincludes a rotary turntable and a rectilinearly moving conveyor substantially tangent to the periphery of the table, the table having thereon a rear, article-positioning rest and a forward, relatively movable gripper for holding the article against the rest, transfermeans for shifting the article from the tableto the conveyor, and means for moving the gripper away from the rest as the article nears the transfer point thereby to release the article, characterized in that the transfer means comprises a clamping element operative temporarily to'clamp the article against the rest while the gripper moves away from the article in releasing the latter fortransfer, and means which engages the article, only after the gripper has receded from the article, to release the latter, and which cooperates with the clamping element to clasp and hold the article while the article is being shiftedfrom the table to the conveyor. l y

Q2. A conveyor apparatus vof the kind which includes a rotary turntable and a rectilinearly moving conveyor, the table having thereon a rear, article-positioning rest and a forward, relatively movable gripper for holding the article against the rest, transfer means for shifting the article from the table to the conveyor, and means for moving the gripper away from the rest as the article nears the transfer point thereby to release the article, characterized in that the transfer means comprises an element operative temporarily to hold the article against the rest while the gripper is moving away from the article, and a second element cooperable with said first element, after the gripper has receded from the article, to grasp and to hold the article between them while shifting thearticle bodily from the table to the conveyor.

3. Conveyor apparatus of the kind which includes a rotary turntable and a moving conveyor substantially tangent"v to the periphery of the table, the table having thereon a rear, articlepositioning rest and a forward, relatively movable gripper for holding the article against the rest, transfer means for .shifting the article from the table to the conveyor, and means for moving the gripper away from the rest as the article nears the transfer point thereby to release the article, characterized in that the transfer means comprises a clamping jaw which engages andholds the ar-ticle against the rest as the article nears the transfer point and while the gripper is moving away from the article preparatory to transfer, a part whichcooperates with the clamping jaw to seize the article and shift it `bodily'from the table to the conveyor, and means for supporting and moving said latter part comprising av vertical driven shaft carrying said part, a vertical stub shaft eccentric with respect to the axis of the drivenshaft, a gear free to turn on the stub shaft,-av crank pin mounted on the gear, a radially slotted actuating arm fixed to the driven shaft, the crank pin engaging the slot in said arm, and means for driving the gear.

4. Conveyor apparatus of the kind which includes a rotary turntable and a conveyor, the table having thereon'a rear, article-positioning rest and a forward, relatively movable gripper for holding the article against the rest, transfer means for shifting the article from the table to the conveyor, means for moving the gripper away from the rest as the article nears the transfer point therebyito release the article, characterized in that the transfer means comprises a pair of cooperable jaws one pivotally supported by the second and which are designed to seize the article between them and to shift it bodily from the table to the conveyor, means operative to move the first jaw into engagement with the article on the table thereby to hold the article against the rear rest while the gripper retreats from the article, preparatory to transfer, and drive means operative to move both jaws with the article held between them so as to shift the article from the table to the conveyor, said drive means comprising a vertical driven shaft carrying said second jaw, a stub shaft parallel with and eccentric to the driven shaft, a gear free to turn on the stub shaft, a crank pin carried by the gear, an actuating arm xed to the driven shaft, said actuating arm havingA an elongate slot which receives the crank pin, and means for rotating the gear in timed relation to the table, the parts being so designed and arranged as to initiate the shifting of the article at a substantially greater linear speed than its norm-al speed of travel with the table.

5. Conveyor apparatus or the kind which includes a rotary turntable and a moving conveyor, the table having thereon a rear, article-positioning rest and a forward, relatively movable gripper for holding the article against the rest, transfer means for shifting the article from the table to the conveyor, means for moving the gripper away from the rest as the article nears the transfer point thereby to release the article, characterized in that the transfer means comprises a pair of cooperable jaws one pivotally supported by the second and which are designed to seize the article between themvand to shift it bodily from the table to the conveyor, means operative to move one jaw only into engagement with the article on the table thereby to hold the article against the rear rest while the gripper retreats from the article, preparatory to transfer, means operative thereafterto move the other jaw into engagement with the article therebyv to clamp the article against the first-named jaw and drive means operative to move both jaws bodily with the article held between them, thereby to shift the article to the conveyor, said drive means being so constructedand arranged as to deliver the g 9;. article tothe'conveyorl at alinear speed less than thato'f theconveyor.

6. Apparatus yv /herein two conveyor elements move -at different linear vvelocities respectively, and wherein transfer means automatically shifts articles supported by the'conveyor `element of greater velocity to the "conveyor lelement of lesser'velocity,characterized in that the transfer means comprises a plurality of article-engaging parts each' Varranged to travel in a closed orbital path, portions of which substantially register with portions of the'paths of articles carried by the 'respective conveyor elements, and means for movingA `said'article.- engaging parts in succession along Atheir orbital'pathS, said means comprising apair of coaxial driven shafts one Abeing tubular and Ahousi-ng the other, each shaft 'having fixed tov it, adjacent to :its lower end, Van actuated arm having'an yelongate radial slot, a gear turning about an axi'seccentric' to the axis of -said drivenA shafts, crank pins mounted'on the gear, saidV pins being 'spacedcircumferentially of the gear and 'each engagingV lthe slot'in one of the actuating armsrrespectfullm and means for securing one of said article-engaging parts to each of'said driven shafts "respectively, the parts being yso constructed and arranged as to move each article-engaging part-'at varying relative velocities, the velocity'of leach article-engaging part'exceeding vthat *of the conveyor 'element :,.1

from lwhich thev article is removed whilein registry 'with said element, 'and being less vat the delivery point than that "of the conveyor element to which the article is transferred.

7. Apparatus wherein two conveyor elements :j

move at different linear 4velocities respectively, and 4wherein transfer means automatically shifts articles'supported Vby one vof the conveyor elements to 4the other, characterized 'in that the transfer means lcomprises a plurality of articlevengaging parts arranged to travel in circular coaxial orbits,y portions of each orbit registering with lportions of the path "of the respective conveyor elements,-means for driving the articleengaging parts at relatively different angular velocities, said drive means comprising a pairy of coaxial driven'shafts, `one ofsaid shafts being tubular andfhousing the other, the upper part ofthe tubular shaft being segmental and of a peripheral extentiess than 180, the inner driven shaft navi-nga radial projection of approximately 45 "circumferential extent,'means operative to rotate the driven' shafts '.at'variable angular velccit-i'es,=and means connecting one of saldarticle-en'gaging parts. to thesegmental portion of the tubular shaft' andfor connecting the other of said article-engaging parts tothe radial proje'ction `of the inner driven shaft, the parts being so'cons'tructed and `Aarranged.' asto impart to each 'article-engagingfpar-t a linear velocity different from that of -the conveyor element with which saidvarti'cle-engaging part for the time' being registers.

' 8. Apparatus wherein-two conveyor elements move at .different linear velocities respectively, and'wherein transfer means automatically shifts articles supported by one'of the conveyor elements to the other, characterized. in that the transfer means comprises a plurality'of articleengaging arms arranged to swing about the same vaxis and across portions of the pathsof the two conveyor elements respectively, and drive means 'for turning each arm, the'drive `meanscomprisin-g a pairof crank pinsvspaced approxirna'telyl vitltapart and turningabout'a 'common axis A eccentric totheaxiszzabout which said articleengaging armsswing .saidcrank pins engaging elongate -slotsin aypair of .relatively movable members mountedvto turn about the axis of l'nota-- tion of said article-engaging arms, and. means' for transmitting.. motion fromtsaidslottedmembers to the 'respective arms, the. parts vbeing constructed and arrangedto move the `arms in succession and at varyingl 'angular velocities, :1 the velocity of each arm differing'fromrthat of thei'espective conveyor over which it swingscat any given time.

9. Apparatus where-in: two .conveyor elements move at different -linear velocities respectively, in. substantially .5 lthe, `same plane and wherein transfer means automatically shiftsaarticles supported by'oneof the conveyor elements to; the other, characterized in :that vthe transferv means comprises a :pair of` vcoaxial :driven shaftsl each carrying` anl article-engaging' part arranged. Lto sweep across 'one of the Iconveyorv elementstnand tovshift articles therefromtouthe other. conveyor element, `each of saidldriven 'shafts having/fixed thereto a rigid/actuating arm,ta^drivefshaftparallel with but eccentric to the' driven" shafts, means carried by the drive shaftfor .zsupportinga'pair of crank pinsxwh'ich .are spaced apart'angularly, each crank pin engagii'i'g'aiguide ,element on'one of the actuating arms respectively,v and means for rotating the drive shaft. i' 'l .Y

10.' Apparatus whereintwcV conveyor. elements move yat different ,linearvelocities'.respectively,- in substantially:theA same planetand' wherein transfer means automatically shifts..,i:articles :supported by one'of thetconveyorifelementsto the other, characterizedxinl rthat thel transfer means comprises a pair lof- Vcoaxialidriven shafts `each having Xed thereto la lrigid `article-Jengaging farm, said arms being ydispo'sediin-r substantially/the same plane 'and 'arranged to fsweep articles' from one of the conveyor "elements to .the other rasrthe arinswrotate, each ofthe .driven shafts having xedto it a rigid actuating armprovidedwith a radially extending elongate guide elementgaa drive shaft parallel with but'eccentric to the driven shafts, said driveshaftfcarrying apair of diametrically opposite crank arms, eachLcrank arm 'having a crank pin which Aengages theguide element of one of the respectivezactuating arms,

and means for turning'thedriveshaft.

l1. Apparatus'wherein a rotary `table .Y and a conveyor belt, substantially tangent v'to fthe table', are disposed in substantially the' same plane and constitute conveyor' elements and wherein vmeans is provided for turning the table and for moving the belt in timed relation, and wherein transfer means automatically shifts articles supported by the table onto thebelt, characterized inv that'the transfer means" comprises a pair of coaxial driven shafts parallel to the axis of the table, eachzshaft having an article-engaging arm operative; as lits shaftA turns, to sweep an larticle'from thextable onto the belt, eachshaft having a rigid actuating arm, each actuating arm beingprovided with an elongate radial guide element, a drive shaft whose axis "is parallelwith but eccentric to the driven` shafts, said drive shaft carryinga disk 'provided with a pairpfdiametricallyopposite` crank members, said 'crank'members engagingthe rguide elements offthe respective lactuating arms, yand means 'for *turning the drive shaft 'initimed relation vto thezturningfof the table.

i112; Apparatus wherein a irotary .table-anda conveyor belt, substantially'tangent to thetabl'e, aredisposedin substantially the same planeand constitute' vconveyor elements' and fwherein means is provided for turning the table yand for moving the belt in timed relation,A and wherein transfer means automatically shifts articles supported by the table onto the belt, characterized in that the transfer means comprises a pair of coaxial driven shafts, the inner shaft having a segmental projection and the outer shaft .having a segmental sleeve portion, the angular extents of said projection and sleeve portion being such as to permit substantial relative rotation of the shafts, rigid article-engaging arms secured to the projection and segmental sleeve portion, respectively, said arms being disposed in substantially the same `plane and so designed that, as their respective shafts rotate, the arms successively sweep across the table so as to shift articles resting thereon over onto the belt, each driven shaft having a rigid actuating arm each provided with an elongate radial guide slot, a drive shaft parallel with but eccentric to the driven shafts, said drive shaft carrying a'pair of diametrically opposite crank members which engage the guide slots in the respective actuating arms, and means for turning the drive shaft in timed relation to the turning of the table.

` 13. Apparatus whereina rotary 'table and a conveyor belt, substantially tangent to the table, are disposed in substantially'the same plane and constitute conveyor elements and wherein means is provided for turningthe table and for moving the beltin timed relation, and wherein transfer means automatically shifts articles supported by the table onto the belt, 'characterized in that the transfer meanscomprises a pair of coaxial driven shafts, the inner shaft having a segmental projection of approximately 45 circumferential extent and the outer shaft having a segmental sleeve portion of approximately 140 circumferential extent, rigid article-engaging arms secured to the segmental projection and the segmental sleeve portion respectively, said arms being disposed in substantially the same plane and so arranged that as their respective shafts rotate the arms successively sweep across the table so as to shift articles from the table to the belt, each shaft having xedthereto a rigid actuating arm provided with an elongate radial guide slot, a drive shaft parallel with but eccentric to the driven shafts, the drive shaft having fixed thereto diametrically opposed crank pins, said pins being at equal radial distances from the axis of the drive shafts .and engaging the slots in the respective actuating arms, and means for turning the drive shaft in timed relation to the table.

14. Apparatus wherein two conveyer elements move at different linear velocities respectively, and wherein relatively movable holding members normally confine an article carried by the rst of said conveyor elements, and transfer means automatically shifts articles supported by one of the conveyor elements to the other, characterized in that the transfer means comprises an article-engaging arm arranged to sweep across one of said conveyor elements and to shift articles from the latter to the other conveyor element, a rotary shaft to which said arm is secured, a gripper jaw pivotally connected with the article-engaging arm and cooperable with the latter to grip the article,

means for moving the arm and gripper jaw asa unit while gripping the article between them thereby to transfer the article from one conveyor element to the other, said means for so moving the arm and gripper jaw comprising a shaft to which the arm is fixed, variable speed mechanism operative to turn the shaft and thereby at different times -to impart bodily movement to the article-engaging arm at linear speeds substantially corresponding to those of the respective conveyor elements, means operative to move one of the article-holding members away from the other as the article approachesthe transfer position, a spring which causes the gripper jaw temporarily to clamp the article against the other of said article-holding members during the recession of the first of said article-holding members from the other, the article-engaging arm then being moved by the shaft to clamp the article against the gripper jaw, and cam means operative as the shaft turns to move the gripper jaw away from the article-engaging arm thereby to release the article.

l5. Apparatus wherein two conveyor elements move at different linear velocities respectively, and wherein relatively movable holding members normally confine anv article carried by the first of said conveyor elements, and transfer means automatically shifts articles supported by one of the conveyor elements to the other, characterized in that the transfer means comprises an articleengaging arm having vertically spaced articlecontacting members, a gripper jaw pivotally connected to the arm and arranged to swing in a horizontal plane substantially midway between the planes of movement of said article-contacting members and cooperable with the latter to grip an'article, means for moving the arm and gripper jaw as a unit in an arcuate path while grippingA the article between them thereby to transfer the article from one conveyor element to the other, the means for so moving the arm and gripper jaw comprising a vertical shaft to which the arm is fixed, variable speed mechanism operative to turn the shaftand thereby at different times to impart bodily movement to the articleengaging arm at linear speeds substantially corresponding to those of the two conveyor elements respectively, means operative to move one of the article-holding members away from the other as the article approaches the transfer position while carried by the iirst of said conveyor elements, a spring which causes the gripper jaw temporarily to clamp the article against the other of said article-holding members during the recession of the rst of said members from the article, the article-engaging arm then being moved by its shaft to clamp the article against the gripper jaw, and a' stationary cam operative as the shaft turns to move the gripper jaw away from the articleengaging arm thereby to release the article.

16. In combination in apparatus of the kind wherein articles are transferred'from a conveyor moving at one linear velocity to a second conveyor moving at a diierent linear velocity and wherein articles carried by one conveyor approach the transfer point while held between a rear rest fixed relatively tothe conveyor and a forward grip member which is movable away from the rear rest to release the article, means for so moving said'grip member as thel article approaches the transfer point, and transfer means comprising an article-propelling arm which moves in a path such as to propelan article from one conveyor to the other and a gripper jaw cooperable at times with said arm to clamp an article between them, in combination, means operative to engage the gripper jaw with the article thereby to press the article against the rear rest whilethe forward grip member is being retracted from the article, and means operative thereafter to engage the articlepropelling arm with the article and to move said and gripper jaw as a unit with the article clamped between them. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first conveyor moves the article in a circular path and the second conveyor moves the article in a rectilinear path parallel to a tangent to saidcircular path, the article-propelling arm moving in an arcuate path about an axis located between the periphery of said curved path and the proximate bound of the rectilinear path.

' SIDNEY T. CARTER.y

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe tile of this patent:

Number 14 v UNITED STATES',l PATENTS Name Date smauwood July 17, 1994.l Woodland Sept. 5, 1916 Johnson Nov. 6, 1917 Stake Nov. 6, 191' Johnson Apr.l5,1919 Fentress Apr; 6, 1920 Guenther Apr. 20, 1926 Peyser Dec. 25, 1928 Stenhouse May 14,1929 Oslund Apr. 16, 1935 Bach Jan. '7, 1936 Fedorchak Mar. 20, 1945 

